Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks Board Minutes Nov 7 2023 MINUTES NOVEMBER 7, 2023 6:30PM IN PERSON, REC. CENTER TYPE OF MEETING Parks and Recreation Board Monthly Meeting CHAIR Stephanie Magers SECRETARY Richard Cunningham ATTENDEES Members Present: Samantha (Sami) Morrison, Stephanie Magers, Richard Cunningham, Sarah Barrett, Rebecca Brownlie, Ryan Firth, Stephen Damiani, Laura (Lulu) Lopez, Ariene Wells, Lauren Griffith Staff: Susan White Council Liaison: Shannon Carroll VISITORS I. Oath of Office for all board members (this begins the new two-year term) II. Call to Order: Stephanie Magers called the meeting to order at 6:39 p.m. Welcome and introductions III. Nominations for Secretary and Vice Chair: Secretary: Richard Cunningham / Vice Chair: Lulu Lopez. Both approved unanimously. Rebecca Brownlie agreed to be backup Secretary if Richard is unavailable. IV. Approval of Minutes from the meeting: Unanimous approval V. Council Update: Council member Shannon Carroll Shannon explained her role as City Council’s liaison to the Parks & Recreation Board. There is an interim agreement with Southside Place for repairs of Poor Farm Ditch south of University Blvd. to Holcombe Blvd. This area needs the most repairs. Weslayan Traffic Corridor update: Feedback from residents is that they do prefer the new 25mph speed limit. Council’s consideration of installing roundabouts at north and south ends of Weslayan is tabled for now. Water system improvements are needed. Bellaire Elevated storage tank may need attention. Council is also considering a new water well at the Wakeforest site. Council approved a study that will cost nearly $100,000 to test the Bellaire water tower. Goal is to learn which water system improvements are needed first. Council approved a Cost of Living adjustment for all city employees effective January 1. This will help retain the employees we have and attract new ones. Lowest income employees will receive a 5 percent increase. Middle range ($50,000 to $100,000) will Parks and Recreation Board Minutes page 2 receive a 4 percent increase, and those making above $100,000 will see a 3.5 percent raise. VI. Friends Update: Sami Morrison, Friends Board Chair Our two biggest annual fundraisers are Fathers and Flashlights and the Park Lover’s Ball. Fathers and Flashlights was November 4th and 5th, and the weather was perfect. We had a record number of children and families: 525 kids and 250 parents. Financial results are not in yet, but it was a very successful event. We are busy planning the Park Lover’s Ball, February 10th at the Post Oak Hotel. Jordan Jewett and Sarah Covington are co-chairs. Tickets expected to sell out soon. We have already put down a deposit to reserve the Post Oak Hotel for next year. Additional money for the Parks Fund comes from the sponsorship of pavers, trees, and benches, but that is a relatively small amount. The fundraising we do does not pay for park maintenance, but it does pay for about 90 percent of all new park development or improvements. There are no tax dollars involved. It is important to get that message out, since most people assume that their tax dollars are going for park improvements that they don’t think are necessary. VII. Parks & Recreation Update: Susan White, Parks and Recreation Director Rubber near the first bench on Edloe Street Pathway and other small items will be fixed by the contractor, but other than that, the project is finished. People are enjoying and giving positive feedback. Susan noted that in 2013 a reforestation program with Friends of West U Parks resulted in 55 new trees being planted. Money raised by the city-sponsored Fun Run will be used to replace the wooden deck (Byron side) at Colonial Park. The deck on Case Street side has been done, and now the deck on the Byron Street will be done. Cost is about $50,000, which will be covered by proceeds from the Fun Run. Regarding the West U Rec Center track. We have earmarked previous Fun Run money for several years. Replacing the track is expensive. We will continue to hold on to the funds for now until the water retention plan is finalized. Wier Park is the big project. Goal is to make the park more accessible. All play structures are Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible. This project makes the pathways to to playground equipment more accessible as well. One important change is that we will be able to expand on the north side of Wier Park to gain about 6,500 square feet of useable space within the park. The space was unusable before. Two picnic tables will have cantilevered covers and a third table will be left uncovered. Two benches will also have cantilevered covers. Susan spoke briefly about each of the new features, including swings and the design of the tunnel. She added that we are 90 percent done with the construction documents. Goal is to have the bid out this year and Parks and Recreation Board Minutes page 3 have the contract awarded at the January 22 Council meeting. We can’t set a schedule until we know who the contractor will be. Goal is to start as early as we can. The work should take about three months. Tree lighting ceremony will be Monday, December 4. This year will be special, because we are kicking off our centennial celebration. We will unveil the centennial logo. There will also be a Founder’s Day event in January. Invitations coming soon to the Mayor and Council Marathon Breakfast. Centennial events include May 4. Reminders to come. All PR Board members will begin receiving weekly reports. VIII. Park Ambassador and Committee choices: Stephanie Magers asked board members to pick which committee they would like to be on and which park they would like to monitor. Susan will send details about the duties of each committee. IX. Order of Business: Stephanie Magers, Chair Water detention is an issue the city needs to deal with. The land under the Rec Center field and the space under the West U Elementary sports fields is being considered as potential water detention space. Landscape architect Lauren Griffin noted that she has been involved in many such projects, and will offer her expertise to West U. City Council. Next PR Board meeting, Wednesday, December 6. X. Motion to Adjourn: Unanimous. Adjourned 8:08 p.m.